Australian Marriage Equality
Media Release
Thursday May 30th 2013
Marriage equality advocates have renewed their call on the major parties to support the recognition of overseas same-sex marriages following the first same-sex marriage in France this morning (Australian time).
Australian Marriage Equality national convener, Rodney Croome, said,
“Given the reputation of Paris a the City of Love, we expect many Australian same-sex couples to travel to France to marry, but their solemn vows of lifelong commitment will count for nothing when they return to Australia.”
“We call on both major parties to support a Bill currently before the Senate to recognise overseas same-sex marriages as marriages in Australian law.”
According to the last Census 1300 Australian couples are married overseas, with the number expected to increase dramatically when same-sex marriages begin in New Zealand in August and after marriage equality is passed in Britain.
South Australian Greens’ Senator, Sarah Hanson-Young, has tabled a bill removing that part of the Marriage Act which expressly forbids the recognition of overseas same-sex marriages.
Yesterday, a bid by Greens’ MP, Adam Bandt, to have a vote on his marriage equality bill was scuttled by both major parties.
A Roy Morgan poll released earlier this week found 65% of Australians support marriage equality while 79% believe there should be a cross-party conscience vote on the issue.
For more information contact Rodney Croome on 0409 010 668.